Preview

How Did John Locke's Theory Influence Modern Liberalism?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
146 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Did John Locke's Theory Influence Modern Liberalism?
Locke theory had a strong influence on on modern liberalism and provided a basis for later political doctrines. such as American "Declaration of Independence", the French "human rights declaration" and other important historical documents were influenced by theory of the government from the The Second Treatises of civil Government.
Many written works of Founding Fathers of the United States such as Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson were inspired and influenced by. his ideas of liberty and the social contract, especially Thomas Jefferson who was the drafter of the Declaration of the independence. the concept of today’s liberal-democratic state is rooted in Locke's writings. For example, the system of United States government
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    AP Government study guide
    • 2262 Words
    • 10 Pages

    AP Government study guide

    b. The ideas of American philosopher, John Locke, greatly influenced the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Locke believed that it was the responsibility go the…

    • 2262 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did John Locke Contribute To The Declaration Of Independence
    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How Did John Locke Contribute To The Declaration Of Independence

    Many ideas in the Declaration of Independence were derived from the work of John Locke. John Locke was a 17th century writer who made many important contributions to modern political philosophy. He wrote the Second Treatise of Civil Government, a book that reflected Locke’s ideas of the State of Nature and how government should be run. Thomas Jefferson was an 18th century American politician and writer who drafted the Declaration of Independence. John Locke’s views formed the philosophical basis of the Declaration of Independence because John Locke’s views brought up the idea of inalienable rights of life, liberty, and property and that the social contract is impermanent.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How Did John Locke's Social Contract Influence The Declaration Of Independence
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Did John Locke's Social Contract Influence The Declaration Of Independence

    How did ideas of Locke's Social Contract influence the Declaration of Independence? John Locke’s ideas influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence by the discussion of equal rights, purpose of the government, and what the people should do to an abusive government. Both in the Declaration of Independence and in the Social Contract John Locke, they list that men should have equal rights. Also they both state the purpose of having a government. Lastly, they say what the people should do if the government does not protect these rights.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Cst Us History Review
    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Cst Us History Review

    John Locke and Rousseau; contributed many ideas that the colonists used to write the Declaration of Independence and then later the Constitution of the United States. Both favored the common man, expressed the belief that government existed at the will of the governed, toleration of religion, and championed human rights for all men.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    John Locke's Influence On Society And Government
    • 66 Words
    • 1 Page

    John Locke's Influence On Society And Government

    In the midst of the Enlightenment Age, a time when philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Thomas Hobbes, and John Locke were forming new ideas of society and government, a war had started between Britain and its American colonies. The colonists claimed their government was failing to provide for its citizens, sharing Locke’s views of the natural rights of men that a government was meant to…

    • 66 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Jefferson and Rousseau Influences Essay Example
    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Jefferson and Rousseau Influences Essay Example

    Thomas Jefferson considers himself a contributor to the Age of Enlightenment. Through many of his writings he expands on the philosophies of the great European writers of that era - Rousseau, Locke, Hume, and Leibniz. In “The Declaration of Independence,” Jefferson directly adopts several themes found in the work of French writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau’s “The Origin of Civil Society,” provides a foundation for most of Jefferson’s ideas in “The Declaration of Independence.”…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dbq Enlightenment Analysis
    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Dbq Enlightenment Analysis

    The enlightenment thinkers provided an inspiration for the colonists and for the government. In the “Second Treatise on Government” by John Locke, he expands on his original enlightenment ideas. He expands on the idea that the government shouldn’t have too much power.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Did Thomas Paine Influence The Declaration Of Independence
    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Did Thomas Paine Influence The Declaration Of Independence

    Thomas Jefferson may have written the Declaration of Independence, but he could not have accomplished such a feat without the help of Thomas Paine and John Locke. Both Locke and Paine were some of the most influential men in the early years of American history. Paine wrote Common Sense, a pamphlet that challenged the rule of the American colonies by England. Locke wrote “Two Treatises of Government.” The second treatise was the most influential to the Declaration and it is focused on the Theory of Civil Society. These are the men that gave early American colonists the drive to independence and made America what it is today.…

    • 876 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Locke's Founding Principles
    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Locke's Founding Principles

    In conclusion, political philosophers and european doctrines of law influenced the United States Constitution by John Locke stating that his political philosophy is not based on natural law at all, but instead on natural…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    John Locke And The American Revolution
    • 3763 Words
    • 16 Pages

    John Locke And The American Revolution

    Locke’s views of on the church and state followed those of Martin Luther. Locke also insisted on liberty of conscience and creator/redeemer distinction. Locke also had a great influence on the United States, considering that Charles II enlisted him along with Lord Shaftsbury to draft a constitution for the new colony, Carolina.…

    • 3763 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Classical Liberalism Analysis
    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Classical Liberalism Analysis

    Locke pointed out only human being have natural liberty. Meaningly, he argued that tied on 'the bonds of civil society'. But there was a premise a community for their comfortable, maintenance of peace to each other, their right to protect the safe and property. Locke assumed people need an establishment of a civil society to resolve conflicts courteously from government in a state of society. His political 'social contract' theory became a cornerstone of the Declaration of Independent of America; it is a good example how theory influences society. Jane Nicoll discussed "The liberty granted within this contract in exchange for protection from the warring tendencies of…

    • 693 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Compare And Contrast Republican And Lockean Liberalism
    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page

    Compare And Contrast Republican And Lockean Liberalism

    Whereas republican liberty had a public and social feature, liberalism was fundamentally individual and private. Besides, liberalism was amicable with large disparities in affluence and welfare. Lockean liberalism unlocked…

    • 208 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On The Declaration Of Independence
    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On The Declaration Of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence written in 1776, was and still is an important document in American history. The declaration was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a supporter of John Locke, clearly evident in his use of Locke’s idea of natural rights, after minimal modifications. Most founders were in agreement to Locke’s ideas. Such as his idea of unalienable rights, which are life, liberty and property. In the Declaration of Independence they are stated as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Locke also believed in a social contract theory, which is an agreement between the government and its people that the established government should protect the rights of the people, and if it does not do so the people have the right to abolish the government and create a new one. “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government” (Declaration). The founder’s beliefs were heavily influenced by the enlightenment period but Locke’s beliefs and ideals are most evident in the Declaration of Independence.…

    • 647 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The U.S. Constitution
    • 689 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The U.S. Constitution

    When discussing the constitution it is impossible to leave out John Locke. Although Locke died in 1704, which was over 80 years before the constitution was written, he had a profound impact on what the constitution would eventually become. The ideas of Locke were adopted by Thomas Jefferson who read many of the works of Locke. A belief of Locke was that all people were entitled to life, liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. He also believed that if the government was to infringe on these rights it was the duty of the people to overthrow that government. Also it was believed that the government got its power from the people. John Locke was a major influence of the constitution and the people who wrote it..…

    • 689 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Federalism
    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Essay On Federalism

    There was a desire to form a democratic government due to the Enlightenment which affected political ideals and social customs as the thirteen colonies evolved into the United States. The American Enlightenment was a period of intellectual incitement which lasted from 1714 to 1818. There was a mass production of books and other pieces of literature with 17th century Englishman John Locke being the Enlightenment's most influential author. For instance in the Two Treatises of Government, Locke states that, “It is evident, that absolute Monarchy, which by some Men is counted the only Government in the World, is indeed inconsistent with the civil Society, and so can be no form of Civil-Government at all.” Locke’s fundamental argument is that human nature is invested with natural rights, so people can law against someone who infringes on their rights. People have the right to dissolve of their government if it does not benefit their interests; the government must serve the people because it has no sovereignty of its own. His ideals then influenced Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence in which it states “We hold these truths to be self evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain undeniable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics